The Austin Greyhounds have turned on the switch and now they’ll find themselves two wins from the state tournament when the section tournament begins next week.

The Hounds clinched the No. 2 seed in the section tourney when they won their fourth game in a row by beating the Savage Outlaws 12-2 in six innings in Marcusen Park Wednesday.

Savage (3-7 Section) took an early 2-0 lead when Austin pitcher Grant Oldenburg allowed a two-run homer in the top of the first. Oldenburg was able to bounce back and hold Savage to just four hits over the next five innings as he picked up the complete game win.

“I’ve played a lot of baseball and I knew it was just a bad pitch in the first inning,” Oldenburg said. “There was a lot of game left and our team can hit the ball. I wasn’t too worried about it. It wasn’t the first time I gave up a home run.”

The Hounds took a 3-2 lead in the third inning when Jordan Hart and Tyler Nelson both scored on the same wild pitch. Hart, who went three-for-three with a double, a triple and two RBIs, and Nelson each knocked in a run in the fourth to put the Hounds (8-10 overall, 5-3 Section) up 5-2 in the fourth.

Hart and the Hounds were able to stay focused, despite falling behind early in the game.

“You don’t want to rush through the game. You want to let the game come to you and you don’t want to cause something that will end up biting you in the butt later in the game,” Hart said. “You’ve got to take advantage of the chances that they give you.”

Wednesday’s win was a big one for the Hounds. With the two seed, they will host a three-game section semifinal series which begins next Thursday. If Austin wins two of those games, it will advance to the 16-team state tournament.

After starting off the season 4-10, the Hounds have rattled off four straight wins in the last two weeks.

“Getting this first round bye has been our goal. Two weeks ago it didn’t seem that realistic, but we got it,” Hounds co-manager John Frein said. “This has always kind of been our style. Some of our older guys have been down this road before. The outcome of the regular season doesn’t matter as long as you get your games in and get your confidence. We’re playing a little better than our competition right now.”

Savage 2 0 0 0 0 0 — 2 6 0

Hounds 1 0 2 2 3 4 — 12 12 1

Hounds pitching: Grant Oldenburg (W) 6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 5 K

Hounds hitting: Nate Conner, 1-for-3, R, BB; Jordan Hart, 3-for-3, double, triple, 2 RBIs, 2 R, SB, 2 BBs; Tyler Nelson, 2-for-4, RBI, R, SB; Matt Cano, 0-for-4; Logan Spitzack, 0-for-1, R, BB, HBP; Josh Evans, 1-for-2; Matt Raso, 1-for-2; Nels Nelson, 0-for-1, HBP; John Frein, 0-for-2, R, HBP; Ethan Horstmann, 1-for-1, 2 R, BB; Dylan Gasner, 0-for-2, RBI; Tommy Olmsted, R, BB; Jacob Kempen, 1-for-1; Steve Clennon, 0-for-1; Alex Ciola, 1-for-1, R; Chad Wiesner, 1-for-1, double, RBI; Jamey Pratt, BB